Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:21:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2827.pdf: 904817 bytes, checksum: cbde040392a5d96f81eb30ab1ff1ce1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-26 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / The Atlantic forest is reduced to less than 8% of its original extent, but still has one of the greatest diversity and endemism rates observed in the Neotropical forests. Therefore, this biome can be internationally considered an hotspot for conservation priority. Several taxa are threatened by the intense habitat fragmentation, particularly, some understory species of birds have a reduced ability of permanence in degraded places. Studies on the species Dendrocincla turdina demonstrate that it possesses sensitivity to local intense edge effects and it could even disappear at depleted environments. This lowers tolerance may be due to its high ecological specialization. We can verify the impacts of environmental degradation on the species through analysis of genetic diversity, which is made using molecular markers. A quite useful molecular marker for population studies are the microsatellites, however, some species have none described, preventing such analysis to be performed. Our aim was to identify and to characterize microsatellite loci for D. turdina and to analyze the genetic variability of a population of this species from an Atlantic Forest area in the Sao Paulo State, in order to contribute to the conservation of this species. It were identified and characterized nineteen microsatellite loci, of which 11 showed polymorphism for the studied population. So far there was not any described loci for the species The number of alleles for polymorphic loci ranged from 2 to 16. Only one locus (Dft12) presented deviations of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, possibly due to the presence of null alleles. No pair of loci was in linkage disequilibrium. The genetic diversity varied from 0.08 to 0.91 and the observed heterozygosity from 0.07 to 0.80. The inbreeding coefficient for the population did not differ significantly from zero. The software Bottleneck indicated a possible occurrence of population bottleneck. The sex ratio was the expected 1:1. The described microsatellites amplified with success in other two species of the family Dendrocolaptidae (Xyphorhynchus fuscus and Sittasomus griseicapillus), indicating its potential use for population analysis of related taxa. The study produced valuable genetic tools for studies that seek to understand the diversity and genetic structure of the species D. turdina and possibly related groups. The analysis of the molecular biodiversity of species in habitats critically endangered, as the Atlantic forest, may be useful for conservation plans and management, aiding in the recognition and characterization of areas with larger genetic resources, in order to preserve the largest possible variability. / A Mata Atlântica está reduzida a menos de 8% de sua extensão original, ainda assim, possui uma das maiores diversidades e taxas de endemismos observadas em florestas neotropicais. Portanto, este bioma é considerado um local prioritário para conservação internacionalmente. Diversos táxons são ameaçados pela intensa fragmentação de hábitat, particularmente, algumas espécies de aves de sub-bosque têm uma capacidade reduzida de permanência em locais degradados. Estudos com a espécie Dendrocincla turdina demonstram que possui sensibilidade a locais com intenso efeito de borda, podendo até mesmo desaparecer de ambientes muito impactados. Esta baixa tolerância pode ocorrer devido à sua alta especialização ecológica. Podemos verificar os impactos da degradação ambiental sobre as espécies por meio de análises de sua diversidade genética, para isso é necessário fazer uso de marcadores moleculares. Um marcador molecular bastante útil para estudos populacionais são os microssatélites, no entanto, algumas espécies não possuem nenhum loco descrito, impedindo que tal análise seja realizada. Nosso objetivo foi identificar e caracterizar locos de microssatélites para a espécie D. turdina e analisar a variabilidade genética de uma população da espécie em uma área de Mata Atlântica do Estado de São Paulo, de modo a contribuir com a conservação dessa espécie. Foram identificados e caracterizados dezenove locos de microssatélites, dos quais 11 apresentaramse polimórficos para a população estudada. Até o momento não havia nenhum loco descrito para a espécie. O número de alelos para os locos polimórficos variou de 2 a 16. Apenas um loco (Dft12) apresentou desvios do equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg, possivelmente devido à presença de alelos nulos. Nenhum loco estava em desequilíbrio de ligação. A diversidade gênica variou de 0,08 a 0,91 e a heterozigosidade observada de 0,07 a 0,80. O coeficiente de endocruzamento para a população não diferiu significativamente de zero. O programa Bottleneck indicou uma possível ocorrência de gargalo populacional. A razão sexual foi a esperada de 1:1. Os microssatélites descritos amplificaram com sucesso em outras duas espécies da família Dendrocolaptidae (Xiphorhynchus fuscus e Sittasomus griseicapillus), indicando sua possível utilização para análises populacionais de grupos taxonômicos relacionados. O estudo produziu ferramentas genéticas importantes para trabalhos que visem compreender a diversidade e estrutura genética da espécie D. turdina e possivelmente de grupos próximos. A análise da biodiversidade molecular de espécies em hábitats criticamente ameaçados, como a Mata Atlântica, podem ser úteis para planos de conservação e manejo, auxiliando no reconhecimento e caracterização de áreas com maiores recursos genéticos, de modo a preservar a maior variabilidade possível.

Submitted by Alberto Vieira (martins_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2018-01-12T14:31:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 841526.pdf: 8465231 bytes, checksum: 087dcd6a71dab1106e6e7f0cad9d636a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-12T14:31:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 841526.pdf: 8465231 bytes, checksum: 087dcd6a71dab1106e6e7f0cad9d636a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-06 / As cambaxirras, Troglodytes musculus, emitem cantos muito diferentes de um indivíduo para outro, mas isso não nos impede de identificar a espécie pela voz. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever as principais características do canto de T. musculus e quantificar a variação de alguns de seus parâmetros acústicos, visando identificar aqueles possivelmente responsáveis pela transmissão da informação de reconhecimento específico. Podem-se reconhecer duas partes bem distintas no canto da cambaxirra, a primeira apresentando notas bitonadas, chiados, harmônicos densos e segmentos caóticos, e a segunda formada por trinados de notas tonais com diferentes graus de modulação de frequência, sendo a primeira parte significativamente maior que a segunda. Os trinados variaram principalmente quanto à amplitude de frequência e duração. O intervalo entre sílabas e a duração das sílabas foram os parâmetros mais conservativos nos trinados, e a frequência menor e a variação de amplitude da frequência, os mais variáveis. Na primeira parte, o parâmetro mais conservativo também foi o intervalo entre sílabas, seguindo-se a frequência dominante e a duração das sílabas. O ritmo dos trinados e a variação da frequência no tempo parecem estar relacionados à função de reconhecimento específico. A maior energia dos trinados e sua faixa de variação de frequência devem otimizar a transmissão dessa informação a longa distância. Devido à presença de estruturas acústicas com pequena capacidade de propagação, a primeira parte deve permitir apenas a comunicação a curta distância entre machos e entre machos e fêmeas. Novos estudos ainda são necessários para testar algumas dessas hipóteses sobre a comunicação sonora em T. Musculus. / Individuals House Wrens Troglodytes musculus may be recognized by voice as members of this species despite their songs differ very much from each other. ln this work I described the main features of the song of T. musculus and quantified the variation of some of its acoustic properties, in order to look for those possibly responsible for transmitting that species-specific information. Two very distinct parts may be recognized in this species' song. The first (and significantly longer) part shows biphonated notes, buzzes, dense harmonics and chaotic segments, while the second one is composed of trills of tonal notes with variable frequency modulation. Trills varied mainly in respect to frequency range and duration. Intersyllable interval and syllable duration were the less variable features of trills, while the minimum frequency and the variation of the frequency range varied more. Inter-syllable interval was the most conservative parameter also in the first part of songs, followed by the dominant frequency and syllable duration. The rhythm of the trills and their frequency variation over time seem to be related to the coding of species-specific information, whose long-distance transmission may be optimized by the frequency range and greater loudness of trills. Given that the first part of the song is composed of acoustic units less well suited for long-distance propagation, it is probably only or mainly used for short-distance communication between males or between males and females. New research is still needed to test some of these hypotheses on the acoustic communication of the House Wren.

No description available.

A five-year study was carried out to test a sensitive, nondestructive, new method for determining sublethal and long-term consequences of fenitrothion applications on forest songbirds. I used censuses and territory mapping of singing males to provide indices of relative abundance on sprayed and control plots. Mist-netting was used to colour-band individuals of 3 indicator species (the chestnut-sided warbler, magnolia warbler and white-throated sparrow), to determine "their breeding condition, and to follow their fates after a fenitrothion application. Time-budget observations were made of the behaviour of some marked individuals. Fenitrothion was applied aerially in 1985, and by ground in 1986. I first studied the effect of fenitrothion on the songbird community; comparing treatment and control plots, before and after the application. Data on the bird populations showed that fewer young were caught in 1985, and birds returned at a lower rate the year following treatment; a lower proportion of the 1986 catch in mist nets were males. Nonetheless, other factors (budworm cycles, for example) had a greater influence on population trends than the treatment. Behavioural observations indicated that individuals of the 3 indicator species did not abandon the treated area after either application, although white-throated sparrows and magnolia warblers moved away from foliage regions with higher deposits of spray. There was no significant change in the allotment of time to social, maintenance, or feeding behaviours, for any of the indicator species. This observation is not consistent with the known symptoms of organophosphate poisoning (i.e. increased time spent sitting, bill-wiping, and preening). Chestnut-sided warblers and white-throated sparrows continued to forage actively on sprayed plots or nearby. Magnolia warblers decreased their foraging effort after both applications. In part 2 of the thesis, I studied the effect of fenitrothion on the invertebrate food of forest songbirds. Branch samples were taken as a measure of the food available to foliage-gleaning birds. Drop trays were placed under sample trees to measure the amount of food fallen from the tree after the application. Following treatment, there was a lower density of invertebrates on white birch and balsam fir branches than on control trees. This reduction was not observed until 5 days after the application, although drop tray samples indicated an immediate kill of invertebrates. These techniques sampled different types of invertebrates such that a large proportion of the drop tray samples were not associated with the tree (eg. flying Diptera). In addition to a decreased abundance, a large portion of the remaining invertebrates on white birch treated trees were dead. This suggests a further decrease in food availability to birds like warblers that specialize on moving prey. The depression of food available to birds was probably short-lived, assuming movement of invertebrates into depopulated areas from unsprayed foliage nearby. Behavioural responses of birds to spraying were also short-lived, apparent only within 5 days of the application. At the maximum allowable single dose, fenitrothion appears to have little effect on forest songbirds, even when tested with a highly-sensitive method. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Spatial processes have a profound influence on the structure and function of community assemblages. The dispersal of organisms from their place of origin to the location in which they live out their reproductive life is particularly important for plant communities, which generally cannot adjust their location post-germination. Connection between communities at a landscape scale can also influence species persistence, local and regional diversity, and functional turnover at the metacommunity scale. Animals have been shown to disproportionately deposit propagules in particular microsites in many plant species, facilitating the arrival of plants to appropriate niche-space. Birds are particularly notable seed dispersers, given their ability to fly long distances and their behavioral inclination toward using specific microsites within their habitat for foraging and nest building. Despite the known influence of animal behavior on plant dispersal outcomes, little work has been done to investigate the role of animals in dispersing bryophyte (moss, hornwort, liverwort) propagules. In order to examine how birds may affect bryophyte dispersal, I conducted two studies focused on understanding how bird species identity and behavior influence the bryophyte propagules they carry. In addition, I conducted a study to understand how metacommunity structure across a landscape can be influenced by focal spatial scale. In the first study I examined how bird species and foraging behavior impact the topical load of bryophyte spores found on bird surfaces. In order to determine this, I captured passerine birds in mist nets and swabbed them for spores. I found that spores were more abundant on passerine tails than legs, and that overall spore load was higher on larger birds. Thrushes in particular carried more spores than other groups overall. Bark and foliage foraging birds had more spores on their tails than ground foraging birds. From these samples I was able to germinate 242 individual bryophytes, demonstrating that carried spores were readily viable. In the second study, I examined species-specific relationships between bryophytes and the birds carrying them. Swabs from captured birds were grown in the lab and bryophyte species were determined genetically. I used a bipartite network approach to determine the level of specialization of associations within the overall network, as well as how specialized the avian associations of individual bryophyte species were. I then used the phylogenetic distance of bryophytes found on individual bird species in order to assess how specialized the assemblages on a given bird species were compared with a null, random model. I found that bryophyte associations with birds were nonrandom, and that the extent to which those associations were specialized differed by bird foraging behavior. In addition, I found that the diversity of propagules on bird surfaces was significantly nonrandom, with the exception of those bryophytes found on Spotted Towhees. In the final study, I examined the metacommunity structure of bryophytes at both patch and landscape scales across a relict landscape of Valdivian forest in North-Central Chile. This landscape consists of distinct natural patches of forest maintained by coastal fog deposition, surrounding by a dry matrix inhospitable to patch-resident bryophytes. I used quadrats to sample bryophyte species abundance at the base and at breast height of ten trees in each patch, in 20 patches across the landscape. I found that when considering the whole park as one metacommunity, the bryophyte community exhibited a Gleasonian structure, in which individual species turnover was idiosyncratic. Considering assemblages from both heights separately, a Clemenstian pattern was observed, suggesting that within each height compartment, turnover of species tended to happen together. Treating each patch as a metacommunity of individual community trees resulted in a wide variety of metacommunity structures across the park that did not reflect either longitude or latitude. Low canopy cover and small DBH resulted in structures reflecting random species loss. Underlying Shannon diversity did not explain differences in the observed structures. This dissertation provides the first evidence that passerine birds carry bryophyte propagules, and that their individual species use of habitat and foraging behaviors are likely to influence the number and diversity of the bryophytes they are dispersing. This has implications for understanding disjunct species and genetic distributions observed in bryophytes that to date have lacked an explanatory mechanism for long distance directed dispersal. In addition, understanding how avian behavior may disperse propagules at a local to regional scale may provide better insight into the trajectory of bryophyte recruitment on impacted landscapes. I also found that assignation of metacommunity structure is sensitive to spatial scale in bryophytes. Together, these findings increase our understanding of the role that spatial processes play in forming bryophyte communities.

Habitat partitioning was studied in a community of passerine birds in the Virgin River Valley of southwestern Utah. Ten habitat structure variables were measured for each of 24 species of passerine birds and several multivariate statistical techniques were used to determine the extent of habitat partitioning. Ordinations of species distributions along known environmental gradients were constructed using Principal Component Analysis and Stepwise Discriminant Analysis. Stepwise Discriminant Analysis was also used to determine which habitat variables were important in species separation. It was found that percent canopy cover was the most important variable. Two hundred seventy six pairs of species were analyzed using Multivariant Analysis of Variance. Of these, 272 were found to inhabit significantly different parts of the environment. Qualitative analysis of the remaining four pairs also showed effective niche partitioning.

There are a number of common distributional patterns that have provided the foundations of our current knowledge of Neotropical biogeography. A distinctive pattern is the so-called \"circum-Amazonian distribution\", which expands across the forested lowlands south and east of Amazonia, the Andean foothills, the Venezuelan Coastal Range, and the Tepuis. To date, there is no clear understanding of the processes giving rise to this distribution. To understand the evolutionary history of taxa exhibiting this pattern it is necessary to test biogeographic hypotheses offering mechanistic explanations. Comparative phylogeography allows more accurate phylogeographic hypotheses for these taxa, as well as better population genetic parameters. Comprehensive comparative studies aiming at unraveling the evolutionary and biogeographic mechanisms underlying the circum-Amazonian distribution have not been conducted yet, and only scarce descriptive information has been published. Therefore, the objective of this work was to elucidate the historical and biogeographic mechanisms underpinning circum-Amazonian distribution by performing comparative genomic analyses of a group of Suboscine passerines. Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs) were obtained for eight taxonomic groups to estimate population parameters and genealogical trees. For the Thamnophilidae species were inferred demographic histories with momi2. The best models of each taxon were analyzed in a comparative framework to relate them with previously proposed biogeographic hypotheses for the Neotropics and to propose plausible biogeographical scenarios for the circum-Amazonian pattern. The circum-Amazonian distributional pattern has two main phylogeographic units: an Andean (plus Central America region) and an eastern-forested region (Atlantic Forest ecoregion, forested areas around southeast of Amazonia), interconnected by a northern and southern corridor, allowing biotic interchanges between them (mainly from the southern) and hybridization. Species-tree analyses recovered (a) an Andean clade with two Andean subgroups in the northern Peru and central Andes, and (b) an eastern-forested clade including northern and central/southern Atlantic Forest subgroups. The demographic histories of the Thamnophilidae taxa suggest that diversification of the circum-Amazonian taxa have a strong influence of climatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene, with interconnected refugia allowing phenotypic/genetic differentiation but maintaining a considerable level of gene flow during varying dry/cool and warm/humid periods. In addition, the results of this work opened interesting taxonomic questions about some taxa that could be covered in the future (T. ruficapillus/torquatus complex, Xiphocolaptes complex). / Existe um número de padrões de distribuição comuns que forneceram os fundamentos do nosso atual conhecimento da Biogeografia Neotropical. Um padrão distintivo é o chamado padrão de distribuição circum-Amazônico, apresentado por grupos filogeneticamente relacionados habitando as florestas de baixada ao sul-leste da Amazônia, as encostas úmidas dos Andes, a área costeira da Venezuela e os Tepuis. Atualmente não existe um entendimento claro dos processos que deram surgimento a este padrão de distribuição. Para compreender a história evolutiva dos táxons exibindo este tipo de padrão é necessário testar hipóteses biogeográficas que ofereçam explicações mecanicistas. A Genômica comparativa permite hipóteses filogeográficas mais exatas para estes táxons, assim como melhores parâmetros demográficos. Estudos comparativos abrangentes visando em esclarecer os mecanismos evolutivos e biogeográficos relacionados a distribuição circum-Amazônica não tem sido elaborados ainda, e só informação descritiva escassa tem sido publicada. Portanto, os objetivo fundamental do projeto foi elucidar os mecanismos históricos e biogeográficos subjacentes à distribuição circum-Amazônica desenvolvendo analises genômicos comparativos de um grupo de Passeriformes Suboscines. Dados do gene ND2 e de Elementos Ultraconservados (UCEs) foram obtidos de oito grupos taxonômicos para estimar parâmetros populacionais e arvores genealógicas. Histórias demográficas foram inferidas só para as espécies da família Thamnophilidae usando momi2. Os melhores modelos de cada táxon foram analisados num marco comparativo para relaciona-os ás hipóteses biogeográficas propostas para o Neotrópico e propor cenários possíveis para a distribuição circum-Amazônica. O padrão de distribuição circum-Amazônico possui duas unidades filogeográficas principais: uma unidade Andina (incluindo a região de Centro América) e uma segunda unidade incluindo as regiões florestais do leste (Mata Atlântica, áreas florestais ao sudeste da Amazônia). Estas unidades estão interconectadas por corredores ao norte e sul da distribuição, permitindo intercâmbios de biota entre elas (principalmente pelo corredor sul). SNAPP identificou o clado Andino subdividido em norte do Peru e central Andes, e um segundo clado das Florestas do Leste incluindo dois subgrupos, um do norte e outro do centro-sul da Mata Atlântica. As histórias demográficas dos Thamnophilidae sugerem que a diversificação na distribuição circum-Amazônica foi altamente influenciada pelas flutuações climáticas durante o Pleistoceno, com refúgios interconectados gerando diferenciação fenotípica/genética mas mantendo certo grau de fluxo gênico nos períodos secos/frios e quentes/húmidos. Adicionalmente, algumas questões taxonômicas sobre alguns táxons estudados que poderiam ser estudadas no em futuros estudos (o complexo T. ruficapillus/torquatus e o gênero Xiphocolaptes).

Lepidocolaptes angustirostris (Narrow-billed Woodcreeper) is a South American woodcreeper that inhabits predominantly open lowlands such as the Cerrado, Chaco and Caatinga. This species exhibits highly variable morphology and vocalization throughout its range. The taxonomic position of L. angustirostris is doubtful; it can be located in at the root or within the Lepidocolaptes genus radiation, depending on the author. Two main groups are recognized within the species, a northern clade distributed in the lowlands of northern Bolivia and central and northern Brazil, and a southern group, which inhabits northern and central Argentina, Uruguay and the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil. Eight subspecies are currently recognized based on plumage and geographical distribution patterns. However, a more detailed morphological analysis and taxonomic revision have not been conducted in this species. Based on the above information, the objective of this project is to conduct a taxonomic revision of L. angustirostris using morphometrical, plumage, and vocal characters. Second, with the aim to test the existence of phenotypic gradients associated to geographical and climatic variations in the taxon, a clinal and GLM analyses were performed. Finally, a distributional pattern was elaborated using geo-referenced records of examined individuals of the Narrow-billed Woodcreeper. The phenotypic analyses allowed us to identify six main plumage types; however, we also found a high level of intergradation among all of these populations. The PCA analyses show certain levels of morphological differentiation among the populations, with a first component correlated with bill characters (bill length, exposed and total culmen), and a second one that reflects the bill width and the tarsus-metatarsus length. These two components could explain 70.88% of the morphological variation described. Evidence of a latitudinal morphological variation was found, summarized in a series of clines partially overlapped on a region localized from the southern Cerrado and Pantanal ecoregions through the Humid and Dry Chaco and the Paraná Flooded Savanna, to the Espinal and Humid Pampas ecoregions. Some climatic variables explain the geographical variation in the taxon, mainly, temperature seasonality, annual precipitation, and minimum temperature of the coldest month. The ecogeographic rules of Bergmann and Gloger are consistent with this variation, as well as the Allens rule, but more narrowly. Thus, the populations of the Narrow-billed Woodcreeper tend to be larger to the south of the distribution. Due the intergradation of all populations found, with no clear diagnosable population, we propose here that Lepidocolaptes angustirostris be treated as a unique species with no subordinate taxa. Any evidence collected here did not support the taxonomic validity of the proposed subspecies in the Narrow-billed Woodcreeper. Despite colour-polymorphism identified in the plumage patterns, the high level of intergradation, the poor resolution of geographical boundaries, and the existence of clinal variation with a plausible introgression among populations not support the splitting of this species in several taxonomic subunits. / Lepidocolaptes angustirostris (arapaçu-do-cerrado) habita principalmente regiões abertas como a Caatinga, Cerrado e Chaco. Esta espécie apresenta morfologia e vocalização muito variáveis em toda a sua distribuição geográfica. A posição taxonômica de Lepidocolaptes angustirostris não é clara, sendo localizado na raiz ou dentro da radiação do gênero Lepidocolaptes. Dois grupos principais são reconhecidos: um grupo do norte que habita as terras baixas do norte da Bolivia e da região central do Brasil para o norte, e um grupo do sul das regiões do norte ao centro-norte da Argentina, Uruguai, e no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brazil. Oito subespécies são atualmente reconhecidas baseadas em padrões da plumagem e distribuição geográfica. Uma análise morfológica e uma revisão taxonômica nunca foram realizadas nesta espécie. Com base nas informações acima, o objetivo deste projeto é desenvolver uma revisão taxonômica de Lepidocolaptes angustirostris usando caracteres morfológicos e vocais. Além disso, para testar a existência da variação geográfica no táxon, uma análise clinal foi realizada. Finalmente, análises de (GLM) foram feitas para identificar variáveis ambientais que possam explicar esta variação, e um mapa de distribuição geográfica foi elaborado usando os registros geográficos dos indivíduos examinados L. angustirostris. Os resultados indicam que as diferentes populações do complexo Lepidocolaptes angustirostris que habitam as areas abertas da Caatinga, Cerrado e Chaco (mais as populações amazônicas) não têm um nível significativo de diferenciação morfológica nem da plumagem para serem consideradas como espécies válidas. As análise do PCA apresentaram baixos níveis de diferenciação morfológica entre os grupos propostos, com um primeiro componente formado por caracteres do bico (comprimento, cúlmen exposto e cúlmen total), e um segundo componente formado por largura do bico e comprimento do tarso, explicando 70,88% da variação identificada. Igualmente, há evidência de uma variação morfológica latitudinal nos dados analisados, apresentado em uma série de clinas parcialmente sobrepostas sobre uma região localizada desde o sul do Cerrado e Pantanal através das ecoregiões do Chaco Úmido e Seco e a savana inundada do Paraná, até as ecoregiões do Espinal e dos Pampas Úmidos. Nas análises do GLM, algumas variáveis climáticas explicaram a variação geográfica no táxon; principalmente a sazonalidade térmica, a precipitação anual, e a temperatura minima do mês mais frio. As leis ecogeográficas de Bergmann e Gloger podem ser aplicadas nesta variação, assim como a lei de Allen, mas de forma restrita. Assim, as populações do Arapaçu-do-cerrado tendem a ser maiores ao sul da distribuição. A proposta apresentada aqui é de manter o status taxonômico de Lepidocolaptes angustirostris como uma espécie única, e propor evitar a utilização das denominações subespecíficas para este taxon. A validade taxonômica das subespécies no Arapaçu-do-cerrado não foi suportada por quaisquer das evidências coletada aqui. A pesar do polimorfismo de cores identificado nos padrões da plumagem, o elevado nível de intergradação, a baixa resolução dos limites geográficos entre as populações, e a presença de uma variação clinal com um nível considerável de introgressão entre populações não suportam a divisão de uma única espécie em várias sub-unidades taxonômicas.

Os Passeriformes compõem a maior ordem de aves do mundo. No Brasil, representam 55,52%, sendo os animais mais envolvidos no tráfico da fauna silvestre. Só no município de São Paulo são registradas aproximadamente 150 espécies. Embora componham um grupo importante e bem representativo, pouco se sabe sobre as causas de morbidade e mortalidade de Passeriformes de vida livre da fauna nacional. O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar, caracterizar e comparar as causas de morte de Passeriformes de vida livre residentes na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo e Passeriformes oriundos do tráfico apreendidos na mesma localidade. Foram estudadas 149 aves, sendo 42,3% de vida livre e 57,7% oriundas do tráfico. As causas de morte nas aves provenientes de tráfico e de vida livre foram respectivamente iguais a 51,17% e 24,42% decorrentes a processos infecciosos; 34,92% e 42,86% a processos não infecciosos; 10,46% e 12,70% à suspeita de processos infecciosos e 13,95% e 9,52% à causas indeterminadas. Óbitos devido a processos infecciosos foram os mais predominantes entre os animais de tráfico, caracterizados principalmente por infecções mistas por agentes bacterianos e fúngicos, enquanto os processos não infecciosos, principalmente traumatismos, se destacaram entre aqueles de vida livre. Os resultados obtidos permitem atuar como importante ferramenta auxiliando e direcionando o atendimento clínico, diagnóstico e tratamento, além de gerar informações que contribuam com os programas de conservação in situ, como as solturas, hoje amplamente realizadas e ainda muito controversas. / Passeriformes are the largest and most diverse avian order in the world. In Brazil, they are around 55,52% and most aimed in the illegal wildlife trade. There are 150 species in São Paulo city and surroundings. Although passerines are an important and very representative group, morbidity and mortality of brazilian free-living birds are unknown. The goal of this work was to identify, characterize and compare the causes of death of free-living Passeriformes in the São Paulo Metropolitan area and those from illegal wildlife trade in the same area. In the total of 149 birds studied, 42,3% was free-living and 57,7% from illegal trade. The causes of death of passerines from illegal wildlife trade and free-living are: infectious diseases (respectively, 51,17% and 24,42%); non-infectious diseases (34,92% and 42,86%); suspicious infeccious diseases (10,46% and 12,70%) and indeterminate causes (13,95% and 9,52%). Deaths due to infectious diseases were the majority among birds of illegal trade, mainly concomitant bacterial and fungic infections, while non-infectious diseases, specially trauma, were more predominant among the free-living ones. Obtained results play as an important tool helping and guiding clinic assistance, diagnosis and treatment, besides to contribute with conservation programs in situ, like releases, that are very frequent nowdays, but they are still controversial.

Os Passeriformes compõem a maior ordem de aves do mundo. No Brasil, representam 55,52%, sendo os animais mais envolvidos no tráfico da fauna silvestre. Só no município de São Paulo são registradas aproximadamente 150 espécies. Embora componham um grupo importante e bem representativo, pouco se sabe sobre as causas de morbidade e mortalidade de Passeriformes de vida livre da fauna nacional. O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar, caracterizar e comparar as causas de morte de Passeriformes de vida livre residentes na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo e Passeriformes oriundos do tráfico apreendidos na mesma localidade. Foram estudadas 149 aves, sendo 42,3% de vida livre e 57,7% oriundas do tráfico. As causas de morte nas aves provenientes de tráfico e de vida livre foram respectivamente iguais a 51,17% e 24,42% decorrentes a processos infecciosos; 34,92% e 42,86% a processos não infecciosos; 10,46% e 12,70% à suspeita de processos infecciosos e 13,95% e 9,52% à causas indeterminadas. Óbitos devido a processos infecciosos foram os mais predominantes entre os animais de tráfico, caracterizados principalmente por infecções mistas por agentes bacterianos e fúngicos, enquanto os processos não infecciosos, principalmente traumatismos, se destacaram entre aqueles de vida livre. Os resultados obtidos permitem atuar como importante ferramenta auxiliando e direcionando o atendimento clínico, diagnóstico e tratamento, além de gerar informações que contribuam com os programas de conservação in situ, como as solturas, hoje amplamente realizadas e ainda muito controversas. / Passeriformes are the largest and most diverse avian order in the world. In Brazil, they are around 55,52% and most aimed in the illegal wildlife trade. There are 150 species in São Paulo city and surroundings. Although passerines are an important and very representative group, morbidity and mortality of brazilian free-living birds are unknown. The goal of this work was to identify, characterize and compare the causes of death of free-living Passeriformes in the São Paulo Metropolitan area and those from illegal wildlife trade in the same area. In the total of 149 birds studied, 42,3% was free-living and 57,7% from illegal trade. The causes of death of passerines from illegal wildlife trade and free-living are: infectious diseases (respectively, 51,17% and 24,42%); non-infectious diseases (34,92% and 42,86%); suspicious infeccious diseases (10,46% and 12,70%) and indeterminate causes (13,95% and 9,52%). Deaths due to infectious diseases were the majority among birds of illegal trade, mainly concomitant bacterial and fungic infections, while non-infectious diseases, specially trauma, were more predominant among the free-living ones. Obtained results play as an important tool helping and guiding clinic assistance, diagnosis and treatment, besides to contribute with conservation programs in situ, like releases, that are very frequent nowdays, but they are still controversial.